The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-11-15
LABOR IN MAINE.
Leading Features of Mr.. Matthew'S
Forthcoming Report.
One Hundred Thousand Summer
Boarders Last Season.
The Fishermen, Knights of Labor,
New Lobster Law, Etc.
Especial to the Press.l

Especial to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, Nov. 14.-The Bureau of Labor
Statistics of Maine is a surprisingly lively
infant considering that it has been in exist
ence less than six months and visit to the
Office of this department at the State House
will soon convince one of the immense
amount of work that is being done there
and the ability of Labor Commissioner S. W.
Matthews to handle it. He is now engaged
in preparing his first annual report and it
promises to be an exceedingly valuable and
interesting collection of information.
Mr.. Matthews has recently received CON-
munication from Hon. Carroll d. Wright
stating that the National Bureau of Labor,
of which MIR. Wright is the head, has made
a complete collection of statistics covering
the strikes in the United States for the six
years begi nning January 1, 1881, and ending
Dec 81, 1885, He gave Mr.. Matthews per-
mission to use the figures on the State of
Maine, and the Commissioner has written
for them and they will be Incorporated into
his report. The record for 1887 will be made
from Mr.. Matthews returns. This will
prove very valuable portion of the report.
The returns from the blanks for statistics
concerning the summer resorts are now be-
ing sent in. Requests for information were
forwarded to $50 hotels, boarding houses
and communities of cottage dwellers, and
returns have been received from 55, with
Bar Harbor. These show summer popu-
lation derived entirely from out the State of
21,131. AS there are some 200 more inquir-
les to hear from and there being many visit
ors who go to isolated and retired places of
whose coming and going it is impracticable
to learn, it is estimated that over 100000
summer tourists visited Maine the past sea-
son. The large amount of money which
they left here dispensing it to the railroads,
steamboat lines, and at the summer re-
sorts, thus becomes no small item in the
report Will give figures showing the amount
of money which they paid out in the State.
Another interesting feature of the report
will be an article on the loan and building
full where started. There are eight of them
now and both investors and working men
fnd them of great advantage.
That portion of the report devoted to the
sea fisheries of the State will, perhaps, be
as interesting to the average reader as any
department Of it. The Commissioner has
Just received letter from one of his agents,
containing facts concerning the operations
Of Lane Il Libby, fish buyers at Vinal
Haven, who, he says, do the largest busi-
ness of any house east of Portland. 1.-THE
facilities of this firm for doing business can
not be excelled on the New England coast
With good breeze the vessels can be on the
fishing grounds in two hours, and their bait
is caught in traps within a thousand yards
of their wharves Their ice is cut close at
hand and stored at the yard. The capital
represented in their business the past sea-
son is $4,000. Fifteen vessels are engaged,
ranging from 20 TO 30 tons each and valued
at $2S,000. Total stock for the season
sever. or eight months-$40,000 Total num-
Der OF men engaged on vessels, 115. The
men go on shares. The vessel has one-fifth
of the total stock. The food, salt, bait, ice,
ETC., are found and paid for by the crew
also all the gearing. The average share per
man has been S412.5O or $55 per month; ex-
pense per man, seven and one-haf months,
$500; thus leaving for the actual earnings of
each fisherman total of $212.50, or about
S28 per month. The average number of
hands employed in the fish yard is 25 men
and 10 women. The men receive from S1.75
to $2.25 per day; women, 70 cents; boys, 81
to 81 80. The number of fish received dur
ing the season was $2,500,000 pounds;
sounds, green. 30, 900 pounds; 500 barrels of
small fish, heads, back-bones, ETC.; 100 tons
llsh skins and waste; 25 tons cusk and cod
skins for glue; 200 barrels of fish oil for
tanning purposes. The quantity of fish
shipped was 10000 boxes and crates, weigh
ing from 40 to 60 pounds each, to the large
cities OF the country; 10000 quintals hake to
the west Indies in drums; five or six hun
dred barrels of Holsters. While the fisher
men have done very well for the season, vet
they have not made'more than living for
themselves and families. All agree that the
business is growing harder all the time and
that success this season has not been on ac-
count of increase of fish, but of prices"
A comparison is then given as follows per
hundred-Weight: